Excellence Luxury Villas · Altea
Luxury Villa Rentals in Altea
Sea-view villas beneath a blue-domed old town, between the Sierra de Bernia and the Mediterranean
As featured in
White houses, a blue dome and Benidorm kept at arm's length
Altea sits on the same bay as Benidorm and has spent seventy years politely declining to resemble it. Tourism arrived here in the 1950s, but the old town still climbs its hill in whitewashed steps and cobbled lanes, with the blue and white tiled domes of the parish church at the top. The Sierra de Bernia rises behind, and the town keeps a quietly artistic air, helped by the university's Faculty of Fine Arts.
Our Altea collection runs to 50+ villas, from contemporary houses with infinity pools in Altea Hills to Mediterranean villas on the slopes above the old town and along the coast towards Calpe. Most come with private pools, and many look straight out across the bay.
What follows is a guide to where to stay, what to do and when to come.
Altea at a glance
- Villas
- 50+ in and around Altea, with up to 7 bedrooms
- Guide prices
- Typically £1,100 to £2,600 a week, from around £500
- Best areas
- Altea Hills, the slopes above the old town, and the coast near Cap Negret and L'Olla
- Best time
- June to September for the sea; spring and autumn for walking in the Sierra de Bernia
- Airport
- Alicante, around 45 minutes to an hour by road; Valencia around 90 minutes
Browse all 50+ villas in Alteaor see them on the map
Villa numbers and guide prices are updated daily from our live collection.
Rent Altea Playa Spain4 bedrooms
Rent Altea Montana Spain3 bedrooms
Castillo de Arena Spain3 bedrooms
Villa Galera Spain7 bedroomsExplore nearby
Altea Hills for sea views and privacy above the Mascarat, the hillsides around the old town for walking in to dinner, and Calpe and Benissa a short drive north.
Whitewash, steep steps and a tiled dome
Altea's casco antiguo is best taken slowly, and on foot, since much of it is stairs. The lanes wind up past bougainvillaea and small galleries to the Plaza de la Iglesia, where the church of Nuestra Señora del Consuelo, rebuilt in the first decade of the twentieth century, wears its blue and white ceramic domes like a signature.
The square works as a natural balcony over the bay, and it is at its best in the early evening, when the light turns the domes a deeper blue and the terraces fill for dinner. Villas on the slopes around town keep all of this within a short taxi ride, or a pleasant walk for the energetic.
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Sea views from the Mascarat to Cap Negret
North of town, Altea Hills climbs the slopes above the Mascarat gorge, a gated hillside estate of contemporary villas with wide views across the bay towards Benidorm and the Serra Gelada. It is the choice for privacy, space and a pool with the whole Mediterranean behind it.
Altea's beaches are mostly pebble rather than sand, which keeps the water notably clear. La Roda sits below the old town, Cap Negret is quieter, and L'Olla, with its little islet just offshore, is the setting for the town's great summer fireworks. Calpe and the Peñón de Ifach are just beyond the Mascarat, around fifteen minutes north.
Browse villas in Calpe
A ridge, a ruined fort and a tunnel through the rock
The limestone wall of the Sierra de Bernia closes off the view behind Altea, and it makes for one of the best walks on the Costa Blanca. The signed circuit, around ten kilometres, passes through the Forat, a natural tunnel in the ridge that opens onto a view of Altea's bay, and the ruins of a sixteenth-century fort built under Philip II against Barbary pirates.
Closer to home, Altea la Vella is a quiet village of orchards at the foot of the sierra, and the Don Cayo club has a nine-hole golf course in the pinewoods. The Algar waterfalls near Callosa d'en Sarrià and the castle village of Guadalest make easy day trips inland.
Explore the Costa Blanca
Rice dishes, loquats and fireworks on the sea
This is rice country, and a long lunch of arroz a banda or arroz del senyoret, cooked in the paella pan and eaten by the sea, is the local idea of a good afternoon. In spring the loquat orchards around Callosa d'en Sarrià, just inland, are heavy with fruit.
The great night of the year is the Castell de l'Olla, held on the Saturday closest to San Lorenzo in mid August, when fireworks are launched from platforms floating in the bay and more than 50,000 people watch from the beach and from boats. Moros y Cristianos follows in September. July and August are hot and busy; May, June and the early autumn are kinder for walking. Our concierge can arrange boat charters, restaurant tables, guided walks on Bernia and transfers.
Ask our conciergeFeatured villas in Altea
Villa Levante Altea: Magnificent 5-Bedroom Villa with Private Pool & Panoramic Views in Costa Blanca5 bedrooms · sleeps 9From £2,625 a week
Villa Mascarat Spain4 bedrooms · sleeps 8From £2,520 a week
Villa Alejandra Spain5 bedrooms · sleeps 10From £2,334 a week
Heaven on Earth Spain3 bedrooms · sleeps 6From £2,125 a week
Villa Priscila Spain5 bedrooms · sleeps 10From £2,093 a week
Villa Ninfa Spain3 bedrooms · sleeps 6From £2,059 a week
Villa Olla Altea: Magnificent 5-Bedroom Mediterranean Villa with Private Pool & Stunning Sea Views5 bedrooms · sleeps 10From £2,017 a week
Casa Palma Spain3 bedrooms · sleeps 6From £1,991 a weekWhy book your Altea villa with Excellence Luxury Villas
The right house, not the nearest one
Altea's villas range from hillside houses within reach of the old town to estates high above the Mascarat, and we know which have the views, the easiest roads and the shortest drive to a beach. With 50+ properties in Altea, we can usually find the house that suits you rather than the one that happens to be free. Search by size, pool, location and price, or tell us what you have in mind and we will put together a shortlist.
Book direct
You book with us directly, with no booking fees. Questions about access, parking, pool heating or how far it really is to the nearest beach go to people who can find out the answer.
A concierge who knows the territory
Boat charters for the Castell de l'Olla, restaurant tables in the old town, guided walks on the Sierra de Bernia, tee times, car hire and transfers from Alicante or Valencia. Our concierge team arranges all of it, leaving you free to decide which terrace to sit on.
A house for every kind of party
Couples, families with small children, three generations together or a crowd of friends celebrating a birthday: we match the house to the group, down to the number of bathrooms and whether the pool is fenced.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the best place to stay in Altea?
Altea Hills is the choice for contemporary villas, privacy and wide sea views, on the slopes above the Mascarat. The hillsides around the old town suit those who would like to be within easy reach of its restaurants and the seafront, and the coast towards Cap Negret is quieter.
When is the best time to visit Altea?
June to September is best for swimming and the sea. Spring and autumn are warm, quieter and ideal for walking in the Sierra de Bernia. August brings the Castell de l'Olla fireworks, so book early if you want to be here for them.
What is the Castell de l'Olla?
It is Altea's summer fireworks festival, held on the Saturday closest to the feast of San Lorenzo on 10 August. The display is launched from platforms floating off L'Olla beach, set to music, and draws more than 50,000 spectators each year. Villas with sea views make a fine private grandstand.
Can you arrange a private chef at a villa in Altea?
Yes. Our concierge can arrange a private chef for a single dinner or your whole stay, along with cookery lessons, guided visits, transfers and restaurant reservations.
How much does a luxury villa in Altea cost?
Across our 50+ villas in Altea, weekly rates typically range from £1,100 to £2,600, with the most affordable from around £500 a week and the largest estates well above. Prices depend on the size of the property, its location and the season, with July and August the most expensive. These are guide prices based on current listings; each property page shows its own rates for your dates.
How do I get to Altea?
Alicante airport is around 60 kilometres away, roughly 45 minutes to an hour by car. Valencia airport is around 90 minutes. Our concierge can arrange private transfers or car hire.
Are there villas in Altea for large groups?
Yes. Our Altea collection includes properties with up to 7 bedrooms. Tell us the size of your party and the occasion, and we will send a shortlist that suits it.
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Find your villa in Altea
50+ villas in Altea, booked direct with our concierge on hand